Gov. Kathy Hochul: Why New York Is Saving Education By Getting Phones Out Of Classrooms

I've been a mom longer than I've been a governor, truthful I'm hardwired to protect kids — my ain and yours. 

That’s why, arsenic New York’s first Mom Governor, I led nan federation past twelvemonth successful taking connected nan addictive algorithms driving societal media feeds. And now, we’re taking different bold step: becoming nan largest authorities successful nan federation to restrict cellphones successful K-12 schools passim nan full schoolhouse day.

I spent nan past twelvemonth walking across New York, talking to everyone from moms and dads to teachers, students, principals — from North Country to Long Island, I heard nan aforesaid thing: cellphones are hurting our kids. 

TEENS SPEND MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THEIR TIME AT SCHOOL ON PHONES, NEW STUDY FINDS

One speech I’ll ne'er hide happened successful a library, sitting successful a circle pinch students. They opened up astir each nan unit and accent they consciousness each time — really they look, whether their apparel are cool, if they’re being excluded from a party. They were carrying truthful overmuch anxiety. How could they perchance attraction successful people pinch each that connected their minds and changeless notifications buzzing successful their pockets? 

I besides heard from teachers who would show me, "We can't compete anymore. We conscionable can't compete pinch nan screens. We're losing nan conflict of connecting pinch our students." They want to build relationships pinch their students. They want to teach. But their kids are glued to their phones, distracted, anxious, and disengaged.

And I heard from parents who would talk to maine astir really their kids are becoming much withdrawn and overwhelmed because of nan changeless bombardment of negativity from their smartphones.

LIMITING ACCESS TO CELLPHONES COULD HELP STUDENTS' GRADES, SOCIAL SKILLS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, EXPERTS SAY

The facts speak for themselves. Ninety-five percent of teenagers person smartphones. They person 250 notifications a time connected average. They can't perchance attraction connected thing other because they're truthful acrophobic of missing something. Even our kids cognize it is excessively much. One young female told me, "You person to prevention america from ourselves." I knew she really meant it. And I knew I had to act.

I understand nan morganatic fearfulness parents whitethorn feel, losing a nonstop statement of interaction pinch their children successful nan lawsuit of an emergency. But arsenic I traveled crossed nan state, I besides heard from law enforcement who told maine that successful nan horrible arena of a wide casualty, nan past point you want is your kid fumbling for their cellphone. That distraction tin mean that they're not safe, because they've mislaid their attraction connected nan personification successful nan beforehand of nan room who is trained to get them to safety.

So, I knew we couldn't do half measures. Our kids needed america to beryllium bold. Our teachers needed america to beryllium decisive. And our parents were asking america to act. So that's precisely what we did. And I stood patient for this.

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Starting this fall, we’ll person nary cellphones successful a child's manus from nan infinitesimal they get astatine schoolhouse to nan infinitesimal they leave. No much memes alternatively of math. No much scrolling done science. Instead, kids will beryllium capable to focus, engage, and conscionable beryllium kids again. 

People inquire maine why this rumor matters truthful much. It’s simple: I want laughter successful nan hallways again. I want to perceive existent voices successful gym class. I want our kids to make oculus interaction and talk to each different face-to-face. I want teachers to consciousness free to thatch again. And I want to create an situation wherever kids tin really study and conscionable beryllium kids again.

Our kids’ mental health is connected nan line. And I’m not going to fto societal media and large tech companies dictate their well-being. That’s why, past year, I told them capable is enough. You can’t support bombarding our kids pinch your addictive, harmful algorithms. And now, we’re taking backmost our classrooms and giving kids their childhoods back.

No different authorities is doing what we're doing present successful New York. I’ll ne'er backmost down erstwhile it comes to what’s champion for our children, because your family is my fight. I said that connected time one, and I mean it conscionable arsenic overmuch today.

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So, I’m proud to opportunity that nan adjacent procreation of leaders is increasing up correct present successful New York. A procreation that will beryllium much focused, much grounded, and much connected to nan world astir them.

This is nan past procreation of students successful New York who will turn up pinch phones successful nan classroom. And that’s a bully thing. Because from now on, our kids will beryllium learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling. Other states should travel our lead.